Coil and bloating

[MonieBL]

hi everyone. I had a coil fitted 6 weeks ago for endometriosis and since then I have been bloated constantly. I’m currently having peppermint tea, apple cider vinegar before and after meals, and buscopan but I seem to be bloated all day every day, no matter what I eat. I’ve recently cut out bread which has helped but not sure what else I can do? Before the coil, I used to get bloated around my period but now it’s all the time and the only change is having the coil fitted. Just wondering if anyone had suggestions on how to keep the bloating away? Thank you 😊.

[Gabby353]

Hi Monie,

It sounds to me like you might be trying the wrong types of herbal teas if they are having unwanted gastric effects, and taking too much is probably going to irritate the lining even more. Laxido sachets might help for a time, if you can get them prescribed to you, if you are experiencing any type of bloating pain.

The types and amounts of medication all serve to make endo worse, as I have been on some for many years now, naproxen,(at times of period and with food), amitriptyline, co codamol, these are constipating drugs and can damage and inflame the digestive tract. I only use them when necessary, unfortunately I get shoulder/back problems, because of work, so need to use some of them, individually. At night time, I just take the one tablet when needed.

I have managed to cut out ones in the day that were causing a lot of reflux and stomach pain. Seasonal weather is a problem as you are always wondering if taking them will help but you later realise, they have a long term impact on your immune system, so are not really good saviours.

I take low dose provera now, which helped starting in tablet form on the recommended dosage, months after the surgery, not before as it would aggravate the natural healing process, for someone in their thirties, and extent of problem. I actually saw someone else for options after my surgery when I started to experience ovarian pain again. It just stops the lining from re-growing like it was, but I have had to moderate the length of time I take it now within the month.

I had to have stage four endo cut away from my pelvis, ureters, rectum, and opened from my left ovary, four years ago, after living with this complex disease for many years, since my early twenties, it was years before I could get diagnosed and get any treatment officially, so am careful with what I take now as aging with an existing prevalent scarring disease, is never far from easy and also slows you down, so implementing a post pandemic reshuffle of ideas is good for you if you can do that. Your determination and how you can emotionally, physically and psychologically deal with it, is the main deciding factor.

Having said that, it's not always the amount of cravings you have that can lead to this condition, even though anything high in oestrogen contributes, but so are genetic abnormalities that underpin the disease found in faulty stomach glucose enzymes, is what the science tells us so far. Hormonal sensitivities and foods can play a hand, but I actually think it all depends on the person and sorry to say, genetic chromosomes in our makeup.

I basically had it for so long long and never realised what I had, just thought it was painful periods, until they started happening more often. Either way, I would stick to simple foods, if you can, do healthy exercise, cut back on higher medications after you don't need them, as it won't cure the pelvic pain.

I've found that bergamot found in earl grey tea helps, some probiotic supplements for the gut, wild yam, and if the coil is producing some unwanted drop in energy levels, probably potassium, which is found in bananas. Yoghurt might help. Too much progesterone or oestrogen actually makes you more tired, so although I've never had a coil, I know that different forms of tablet progesterone do that anyway, sapping any remainder of energy. It's all about finding and training the right balance.

Coffee is supposed to be a natural laxative, if used in small amounts, and not with any strong medication as it can produce some unwanted side effects, like hypertension, but it can help as well as eating some low fibre based foods. I use ground based flavoured coffee only.

I hope some of the advice helps you.

Gaby.

[MonieBL in reply to Gabby353]

Thank you for taking the time to reply to me Gabby, definitely a lot of useful information there 😊 xx

[Gabby353 in reply to MonieBL]

That's okay. Happy to help. Feel free to pm me on how you are getting on. I often put down too much detailed thoughts, comes from years of having to manage an often unmanageable condition! I'm sure you are pretty sensible anyway, and are taking everything into consideration. The best options are always served like that, and it's usually up to us to sift them out, each one at a time, then learning to just live with it. No point in all these food diaries anyway. Another recommendation I'd make is to go Lacto free with milk, as they are often the best for the gut in the morning, and gluten free and plant based foods, they are much friendlier to gut microbes.

I forgot to mention the obvious one. A heat wrap when you have severe cramps.

Good luck and I hope all goes well for you from now on.

Gaby